MAY 16, 2013

As Honda returns, Sato rules out F1

Honda is expected to announce before the week is out its highly anticipated return to formula one.

Citing Honda sources, major Japanese newspapers including the Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun, and the Kyodo news agency, are reporting that a formal announcement of the 2015 comeback is now imminent.

The announcement will almost certainly be of a works engine collaboration with the great British team McLaren starting in 2015, and potential customer engine deals for the radical new turbo V6 regulations.

A Honda spokesperson would not comment.

Interestingly, however, Tokyo-born former Honda driver Takuma Sato has ruled out a return to formula one in the near future, insisting he is committed to Indycar.

"Formula one isn't the only racing," the 36-year-old told NBC.

"My first focus is to win races here, win the (Indy) 500 and win the championship."

German-language Speed Week, however, said it could be a totally different story for the newly-departed and formerly Toyota-backed Japanese Kamui Kobayashi.